2004 Football

All-Heartland Conference

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Ten Bluffton University football players were honored by the Heartland
Collegiate Athletic Conference for their efforts during the 2004 campaign. Heartland
Conference honors were voted on at the end of the year coaches meeting held earlier
this week. Bluffton finished the season with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-3 conference
record.

Christy

Freshman Ryan Christy (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett) was selected the freshman-of-the-year by the conference.
He tallied 57 tackles (18 solo), six pass break ups, two interceptions and one fumble
recovery to earn this prestigious award. Christy is the first Beaver to win this
award since Bluffton joined the HCAC in 1998.

Steiner

Four Bluffton players were selected first team All-HCAC, those players were: senior
Scott Steiner ( Berne, Ind./South Adams), junior Seth Burkholder (Pandora/Bluffton), junior Rashid Morton (Detroit, Mich./Ypsilanti) and sophomore Jeremy Anderson (South Richwood/Airport). This is the first year that Steiner has been selected first
team All-HCAC after being selected second team the past two seasons. For Burkholder,
Morton and Anderson, this honor is their first All-HCAC recognition.

Morton

In Steiner's final season at Bluffton he led the Beavers and was second in the
conference in tackles, recording 122. He also posted 7.5 tackles for a loss, seven
pass break ups, four interceptions, and one blocked field goal on the season. Burkholder
was 8-for-16 in field goal attempts on the season as well as connecting on 24 extra
point attempts and posted 61 punts, averaging 35.1 yards per punt. Anderson was selected
first team All-HCAC in his first year with the Beavers after transferring in from
Adrian College. He ended the season with 65 tackles, one tackle for a loss, twelve
pass break ups, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown, one forced fumble and
one fumble recovery. On the season, Morton recorded posted 39 tackles, six tackles
for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.

Burkholder

Three Bluffton players received second team honors including senior Matt Chiles (Sidney/Sidney), senior Andy Tabler (Columbus Grove/Columbus Grove) and junior Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine). Chiles finished his senior season third on the team
in tackles with 75, recorded 3 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, three pass
break ups and one interception on which he scored a defensive touchdown on. Tabler
posted 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception and two pass
break ups to help the defensive effort. While leading the Beavers running game, Dodds
finished third in the HCAC in rushing this season, totaling 964 yards and nine touchdowns.
He also ranked third on the team in pass receptions with 12 catches for 108 yards
and one touchdown. He was fifth in the HCAC in all-purpose yards, having averaged
129 yards per game.

Anderson

Honorable mention selections for All-HCAC included senior Mark Gable (Alvordton/Hilltop), junior Bryan Lloyd (Elida/Bath) and sophomore James Fay (Cairo/Bath). Gable finished his senior campaign with his second consecutive All-HCAC
award after receiving second team honors a year ago. He led the Beavers in receptions
(31) this season, as well as receiving yards (460) and receiving touchdowns (5).
Bryan Lloyd receives his second consecutive honorable mention award for his 52 tackles,
5.5 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one pass break up. This
is Fay's first selection for his outstanding play on the offensive line that produced
the third best HCAC rushing attack.